Stephen Castaneda has extensive experience teaching and directing choirs in New Jersey. He received his Bachelor's degree in Music from Hampton University in 2012 and is pursuing his Master's degree in Music Education from Westminster Choir College, anticipated to complete in 2015. He is currently teaching private piano lessons and directing choirs at a church and high school in New Jersey.
Stephen Castaneda has extensive experience teaching and directing choirs in New Jersey. He received his Bachelor's degree in Music from Hampton University in 2012 and is pursuing his Master's degree in Music Education from Westminster Choir College, anticipated to complete in 2015. He is currently teaching private piano lessons and directing choirs at a church and high school in New Jersey.
Stephen Castaneda has extensive experience teaching and directing choirs in New Jersey. He received his Bachelor's degree in Music from Hampton University in 2012 and is pursuing his Master's degree in Music Education from Westminster Choir College, anticipated to complete in 2015. He is currently teaching private piano lessons and directing choirs at a church and high school in New Jersey.
Stephen Castaneda has extensive experience teaching and directing choirs in New Jersey. He received his Bachelor's degree in Music from Hampton University in 2012 and is pursuing his Master's degree in Music Education from Westminster Choir College, anticipated to complete in 2015. He is currently teaching private piano lessons and directing choirs at a church and high school in New Jersey.
May, 2012 Bachelor of Arts in Music, Cumulative Grade Point Average: 2.9 Conducting with Royzell Dillard; Music Recording Technology with Emidio Tomasetti and Harvey Stokes; Music Theory with Harvey Stokes; Opera Workshop with Charlene Marchant; Music History with Lori Shipley Westminster Choir College of Rider University, Princeton, NJ. Masters of Music in Music Education, May, 2015 (anticipated) Cumulative Grade Point Average: 3.661 Music Education with Janet Cape, Sharon Murrow, Al Holcomb, Frank Abrahams and James Maher; Brass and Woodwind instruments with Janet Cape; Music Technology with Janet Cape; String instruments with Robert Loughran; Music Theory with Stefan Young; Music of South East Asia with Eric Hung
TEACHING
Senaca High School, Tabernacle, New Jersey
Winter, 2014 Taught choral music, concert band, orchestra, and music theory classes for grades 9-12 in a supervised practicum. Conducted three separate vocal groups: Mixed Choir (Beginner), Chamber Singers (Advanced), and Show Choir. Developed choral warm ups that addressed choral and vocal issues in the repertoire while encouraging good vocal technique and strong choral habits. Constructed student-centered lessons that fostered a higher level of musicality in students. Incorporated an adequate use of technology to improve the classroom experience. Implemented Understanding by Design lesson plans. Honored the world of students by engaging them in analysis of music they enjoyed. Conducted and accompanied orchestra on piano. Conducted concert band. Conducted and accompanied groups on piano for Winter Concert. Hunterdon Academy of the Arts, Flemington, New Jersey 2014-present Currently teaching private lessons in Piano. Providing student-centered instruction to engage students. Using Howard Gardners theory of Multiply Intelligences to teach according to students personal learning styles. Accompany the True Voice Project ensemble on piano. Group sings a repertoire that they choose themselves that consists mostly of pop music. I use technology like Logic Pro to play layered instruments to enhance the performance experience. I also teach some rehearsals and implement warm-ups that will address issues the ensemble may have.
First Hopewell Baptist Church, Newark, New Jersey
2014-present Director for the Youth Choir and Adult Choir. Accompany both choirs on piano and organ. Teach choir hymns and contemporary gospel music. Create warm-ups that will maximize the potential of singers with little singing experience. Simplify song arrangements to be more suitable for less experienced group. Ewing High School, Ewing, New Jersey Spring, 2014 Taught Music Appreciation and conducted choir for children grades 9-12 in a supervised practicum. Developed choral warm-ups that addressed choral and vocal issues in the repertoire while encouraging good vocal technique and strong choral habits. Accompanied choir on piano. Created lessons plans for Music Appreciation that focused on music the students liked to better engage students. Lessons were aligned with the National Standards for Music Education. West Windsor-Plainsboro Elementary School, Plainsboro, New Jersey Fall, 2013 Taught general music for grades 4-5 in a supervised practicum. Lessons implemented Kodly and Orff strategies to aid in music literacy and creativity. Created listening lessons that engaged students in active music listening. Lesson content was correlated to meet the benchmarks of the National Standards for Music Education. Differentiated instruction to meet individual student learning styles and special education students mainstreamed into the classroom. Assisted in teaching a self-contained special education class weekly. Calvary Revival Church of Chesapeake, Chesapeake, Virginia 2011-2012 Pianist. Organized band and lead band rehearsals. Taught choir parts. Worked with Youth Choir, Mass Choir and Praise Team. Wrote and arranged songs for the Praise Team that we performed regularly. Hampton University Gospel Choir, Hampton Virginia 2010-2012 Served as the Music Director and pianist for Gospel Choir. Responsible for organizing band and leading band rehearsals. Also responsible for teaching choir parts for some songs. RELATED EXPERIENCE
Coastal Stewards Education Program Leader Summers 2009-2011
Responsible for leading a group of 12 that ranged in ages from 13-25. Educated visitors of Assateague Island on environmental restoration.
PERFORMING EXPERIENCE
Westminster Symphonic Choir - Joe Miller, conductor
2013-2014 Performances with the New York Philharmonic; Philadelphia Symphony Westminster Jubilee Singers - Brandon Waddles, conductor 2013-2014
Hampton University Concert Choir - Royzell Dillard, conductor
2011-2012 Accompanied choir on piano for gospel pieces and sung bass on others. Toured with choir during Spring Tour. Hampton University Gospel Choir - Royzell Dillard, conductor 2007-2012 Accompanied gospel choir on piano. Performed in various church venues on East Coast. Opera Workshop Recital - Charlene Marchant, director 2011 Solo performer of Vecchi Zi Mara Senti (from Puccinis La Bohme) SPECIAL INTERESTS
Songwriting (Wrote, produced and arranged my own album)
Piano Music Production
AWARDS AND HONORS
Gospel Music Association (GMA) Songwriting Competition
Nashville, Tennessee (Top 10 Finalist out of 225 Applicants) Hampton University Ministers Conference Music Academy
MEMBERSHIPS
National Association for Music Education (NAfME)
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
CERTIFICATIONS
New Jersey Teachers Certification (Anticipated)
REFERENCES
Dr. Frank Abrahams - Professor of Music Education
Westminster Choir College of Rider University 101 Walnut Lane Princeton, New Jersey 08540 (609) 924-7146 Abrahams@rider.edu Dr. Shane Morrow - Assistant Professor of Music Education Westminster Choir College of Rider University 101 Walnut Lane Princeton, New Jersey 08540 (609) 921-7100, ext. 8238 Smorrow@rider.edu Mr. Robert DiLauro - Choral Director Senaca High School 101 Carranza Rd. Tabernacle, New Jersey 08088 (609) 268-4600 ext. 6676 RDILAURO@lrhsd.org Additional references and confidential career dossier available upon request from: Career Services - Westminster Choir College of Rider University 101 Walnut Lane - Princeton, New Jersey 08540 (609)92107100 ext. 8217